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This issue sponsored by
BreakingIn.net
~ Where Screenwriters Go to Break In! ~
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Dear Screenwriter:
Just to take the sting out of your winter doldrums, this issue offers a fun tutorial on how to pick a winning title for your script. This piece runs a bit longer than usual, so I've foregone the Q + A this issue. I hope the title tutorial stimulates your imagination.
On with Script Market News...
SCRIPT
MARKET
NEWS
January 25, 2003
IN THIS ISSUE...
TUTORIAL => Making Your Title WORK for You
MARKET TIP => Film Festival Contests
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Hot Writing Jobs
No more excuses...
Find out how YOU can get PAID to write!
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Tutorial:
10
WAYS YOUR SCRIPT TITLE CAN WORK FOR YOU
Copyright (c) 2003, Lenore Wright
First impressions count. Great screenplay titles create a positive impression -- a turn-on, not a turnoff. If the title of your script hooks your readers right from the start, you'll have a better chance to keep them reading.
Some writers create a title first, then their script takes shape around it. Other writers don't come up with a title they like till they've finished their final polish.
To help you invent a great title for your script, I've come up with several examples of how titles can (and should) work for you and your script.
NOTE: No title works in all these ways at once, but the more ways YOUR title works for YOU, the better.
Titles
That Convey the GENRE of Your Movie
Studios market movies by genre so a title that conveys your movie's genre will help you get your script read and remembered.
Examples of titles that REVEAL GENRE:
~ MISSION IMPOSSIBLE (Techno-Thriller)
~ STAR WARS (Science Fiction - Action)
~ FATAL ATTRACTION (Romantic- Thriller)
~ DIAL M FOR MURDER (Murder Mystery)
Titles That Emphasize
CONFLICT or CRISIS
~ BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK
~ HIGH NOON
~ AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER
~ BACK TO THE FUTURE
~ HOME ALONE
Titles That Pose an Intriguing Question
~ MEN IN BLACK (Who are these cool guys?)
~ WHO KILLED ROGER RABBIT? (Who Is Roger Rabbit?)
~ THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW (What the heck is this about?)
~ THE VIRGIN QUEEN (Will she or won't she?)
Titles That Conjure Up a VIVID IMAGE
~ BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S
~ HAMBURGER HILL
~ LOST HORIZON
~ A BRIDGE TOO FAR
Titles That Connect to a POSITIVE MEMORY
~ TITANIC
~ MISSION IMPOSSIBLE
~ RETURN TO...
Titles That Spotlight the STAR'S ROLE
Biopics use titles this way of course, but it's not limited to biographies. Stars attach themselves emotionally to a great TITLE ROLE. You want the Star thinking -- "Hey, this movie is about ME!"
~ ROCKY
~ BILLY JACK
~ CROCODILE DUNDEE
~ G.I. JANE
~ MISS SAIGON
~ MAVERICK
Titles That Exploit Cultural References
~ SOME LIKE IT HOT
~ ALL ABOUT EVE
~ THE PAWNBROKER
~ MAIN STREET
~ UNTOUCHABLES
~ GREASE
Titles That Establish an Exotic Setting
Only use a title this way if the setting of your movie resonates on many levels within the movie and with your audience.
~ SUNSET BOULEVARD
~ CASABLANCA
~ 42ND STREET
~ ON THE WATERFRONT
Titles That Create a VIVID METAPHOR
~ BRIDGE OVER THE RIVER KWAI
~ BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S
~ DARK VICTORY
~ FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
~ THE LONGEST YARD
Titles That Cash in on CURRENT SLANG
~ YOU'VE GOT MAIL
~ DAZED AND CONFUSED
~ SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT
~ THE LONG GOODBYE
~ TOP GUN
One caution: Pop titles nave to perfectly timed. Marketing titles too many years after the phrase was popular dates your script.
GUIDELINES FOR CHOOSING YOUR TITLE
--> Reflect the content of Your Movie on as many levels as possible.
Let your title work as many ways as possible: exploiting genre, establishing tone, defining the star's role, creating a central metaphor, emphasizing the central conflict, defining the crisis moment.
--> Your title should be understandable (by a majority of your target audience) but not mundane.
Don't burden your unique, wonderful script with a shopworn title or a cliche phrase. Audiences can only endure so many TERMINAL MOMENTS, FATAL ATTRACTIONS and PRIMARY DANGERS.
JUST FOR FUN!!
Here are some lousy movie titles (only my opinion) that didn't stop their movie from being enormously $uccessful:
~ HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE (Who knew.)
~ IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (Cheesy title, perfect movie.)
~ LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL (Maybe this title is better in Italian.)
~ THE PRODUCERS (Title not funny, movie hilarious)
~ LOVE STORY (Nobody knows why this was a hit, but it was.)
E-mail me the titles of your favorite produced movies => screenwriter@breakingin.net
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Selling Your Work to the Movies?
LET www.breakingin.net
HELP YOU BREAK IN!
Bombproof Query Letters =>
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Script Format Tutorial =>
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Reserve Your Copy:
MARKET
TIP
Film
Festival Contests
=> CAROLINA FILM FESTIVAL FEATURETTE
Short scripts only! The winning featurette should be 30-60 pages in format and it must be about or set in the Carolinas.
Actors from the UNC Greensboro Theatre Program will perform a reading of the winning script on the last day of the Film and Video Festival. The author will receive a videotape of the reading.
E-MAIL => carolinafilmfest@excite.com
INFO => www.uncg.edu/bcn/cfvf
=> NANTUCKET FILM FESTIVAL
This popular film festival offers a screenplay competition along with a series of staged readings of originals screenplays. Professional actors from New York's Naked Angels Theatre Company perform the readings. Great exposure in a great location!
DEADLINE => March 14, 2003
INFO => www.nantucketfilmfestival.org
=> MOONDANCE FILM FESTIVAL
The deadline on this popular Colorado
contest has been extended to January 31, 2003 so check it out.
DEADLINE => January 31, 2003
INFO => www.moondancefilmfestival.com
=> VIRGINIA FILM INSTITUTE SCRIPT CONTEST
Formerly the Great Lakes Film Association, this annual contest offers winners cash awards plus passes to the VFI Film Festival and accommodations for the winner and a guest.
DEADLINE => February 28, 2003
INFO => www.vafilminstitute.org
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Hot BOOKS for Emerging Writers
Wintry weather got you down?
Curl up with a good book.
Check out our BOOKLIST
for SCREENWRITERS:
www.breakingin.net/books.htm
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Do a writing pal a favor and
FORWARD Script Market News to them.
Then FINISH THAT SCRIPT, pick a
bomb-proof title and get 2003
off to a great start.
Happy New Year to ALL!
Lenore Wright, Editor
Script Market News
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